Semi-monthly news and updates about the homes, people, businesses and communities that are featured in Lake Washington 130 Homes. This covers the Lake Washington waterfront in Seattle’s Madison Park, Denny-Blaine and Madrona neighborhoods, Mercer Island, and The Eastside communities of Bellevue, Medina, Hunts Point and Yarrow Point.

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Jeff Brotman Hosts Michelle Obama

Jeff and Susan Brotman hosted lunch with Michelle Obama at their Medina mansion on October 25, 2010. The lunch was a fundraiser for US Senator Patty Murray’s (Democrat Washington) reelection. Table captains pledged $7500 each. The mansion is in the exclusive cove of Medina that includes Nathan Myhrvold’s T-Rex house, Charles Simonyi’s Window 2000 house and Gary Reed’s former estate. The mansion is on page 98 in Lake Washington 130 Homes.

Jeff is the Chairman and co-founder of Costco. The mansion is also known as “their Art House” that includes monumental pieces by Richard Serra and James Turrell. The house was designed by Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen Architects who are known for designing art-galleries-cum-residences (http://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/13/magazine/footnotes-100439.html?pagewanted=2). The louvers on the front (water side) and roof of the house adjust to provide the opitimun natural light on the extensive art collection.

One might think that someone with Brotman's purported business experience would be smarter than embracing either Obama or Murray. Kind of makes you scratch your head, wondering how he got this far. His political leanings belie any semblance of economic common sense!

So you have to be a cut-throat, penny-pinching CEO to run a successful company? Last I checked, Costco leaves both WalMart and Sam's Club in the dust far as sales go despite both being run by right wing conservatives with the above-described traits.

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About Me

In August 2009 I wrote and published Lake Washington 130 Homes. I moved to the Seattle area in 1994 from Newport Beach, California. I met my wonderful wife, Susan, and we were married in 2001. She has lived on Mercer Island waterfront for thirty-five years which is where we reside.
The book contains photographs, stories and statistics of 130 mansions and estates that are creatively woven with current and historical information about the homes, owners, their businesses and communities. This book is for anyone who has a fascination with unique homes of the rich and famous or an interest in the Seattle area. This is the first book of its kind publishing pictures of homes, their locations and public information regarding the owners and residents.
Susan and I have 6 children and 6 grandchildren from our previous marriages. We enjoy our family get-togethers!